In the early hours of March 31, Russian forces launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying 289 drones of various types. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 267 of these drones, according to reports from the Ukrainian Air Force.
The attack commenced at 6:00 PM on March 30, with drones being launched from multiple locations, including:
- Orel, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia,
- the Gwardeyskoye area in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.
Approximately 200 of the drones were identified as Shahed models. The Ukrainian defense forces utilized a combination of aviation, anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare units, drone systems, and mobile fire groups to counter the assault.
- As of 8:00 AM, air defense had successfully downed or suppressed 267 drones, including types such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas.
- However, reports indicated that 20 drones managed to strike 11 locations, with debris from downed drones landing in six areas.
“The attack is ongoing, and several enemy drones remain in the airspace. Please adhere to safety protocols!” the Air Force stated.
A large-scale drone attack by Russian forces on Ukraine resulted in the interception of 267 out of 289 drones. Despite the successful defense, some drones did manage to hit multiple locations, raising concerns about ongoing threats in the region.